Easel



Aug. 23, 1938.

I 4 rIlIlIllIllllllllllll/A:

. J. TEPPr-:R

EASEL Filed Aug. 18, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l J. TEPPER Aug. 23, 1938..

EAsEL Filed Aug. 18,v 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Il.. m

Patented Aug. 23, 1938 UNITED- .f S11-Aras PATENT OFFICE l.5 claims.

The present invention, though having elds `oi more general utility, isparticularly related to easels.

Easels as commonlyused comprise a tripod with collapsible legs, a canvassupport carried by the tripod and-a clamping member for clamping thecanvas'to the support. To s et up theeasel it is necessary to unclampthree clamping screws to release the members of the threecollapsiblelegs, and to retighten them after the legs have been extended; toperform similarmanipula-` tions for the canvas support; to actuat'e "afurther clamping screw to secure the clamping member in place;"an`d togo through a number of other and further `time-consumingsteps; and allthisbefore it is possible to put brush to canvas. The very purpose ofemploying easels oithis character is to make it possible for ftheartistto travel from place to place in the endeavor tolnd a scene worthy ofreproduction; but these scenes are often so ileeting in naturethat, bythe time that 'the easel has been set up, Vthe 'scene' has shifted, andit may never be possible to nd another just like it.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to improve uponeasels of the above-de scribed character, to the ends that they may berendered as self-adjusting as possible, in a minimum of time.

A-further object is to provide an easel or the like with a tripod thecollapsible legs of which shall become extended very rapidly and shallthereafter automatically remain in extended position until itis desiredto collapse them again.

A further object still is to eliminate the neces sity for using clampingscrews or other timeconsuming mechanisms. y

A further object is to provide an easel that will stand up very rmly soas not to be blown over by wind, and so as not to be easily spread outin the studio.

Other and further objects Will be explained hereinafter and will beparticularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understoodthat it is intended, by suitable expressions in the claims, to set forthal1 the novelty thatthe `invention may possess.

The invention will now be described in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which Fig. l is a perspective of an easel constructedaccording to one embodiment of this invention, parts being shown brokenaway, the easel being shown open and holding a canvas in pcsition; Fig.2 is a fragmentary detail upon a larger scale; Figs. .3 and 4 aresimilar details, upon other portion of the easel support; Fig. 11 is aneleval tion of the easel, shown collapsed; Fig. 1-2 isa perspectivevcorresponding `to Fig; 2 of `a further modification; and Fig. 13 is aperspective of a further detail.

The novell tripod of the present invention comprises threecollapsiblelegs,` pivoted together at their upper portions, and each comprising twocollapsible'members that `may be in the form o'f tubes 2, l (Figs. 4, 5,7, 8 and 9) or bars 90, 92 (Figs. l to 3, 6,8, and to `i3). If themembers are tubular, they maybe of metal; and if in the forms of bars,of wood. The tube 4 is of smaller diametenso as to t Within the tube 2.The Abars 9B and S2, on the other hand, may both be o'f the samecross-sectional shape and area, more `or less square, or oblong.

l'rilcc'zording to the modification shown in Fig. 8, the lower member 92is slidably mounted in a l'cor respondingly shaped, tubular member `2.The member 92may also be tubular.

The diameters of the tubes 2 and 4 arepreerably such that the Outsidewall of `the inner tube fl engages more `or less-snuglyagainst theinside wall of thefouter tube 2, so as to permit frictiona'l telescopingmovement of the tubes. If desired, however, the outside Wall of the`inner tube 4 may be of slightly smaller diameter than the inside wallof the outer tube 2, and collar stops (not shown) may be provided totake up the space between `the tubes, so as to provide for thefrictional engagement ofthe tubes, and also Yto limit the degree `ofrelative, outward, telescoping movemento` the tube d with respect to thetube 2, as described in application Serial No. 660,420, filed March 11,1933, of which the present application is a contlnuationin part, andwhich matured, on December l5, 1936, into Letters Patent No. 21064,-232.

The lower end of 'the upper bar 90 may be provided with a metal,U-shaped guide 94, within which the lower bar 92 is slidable, and`theupper end of the lower bar 92 may similarly be provided with ametal, U-shaped guide 95, within 4which the upper bar @il is slidable.

The lower end of the tube 2 may be provided, vas shown in Fig. 7, withan integral tongue 6, the extremafree end 8 of which is bent over so asfreely to hold pivotally a split -end portion I3 of a ring I 0,preferably of metal wire, surrounding the tube 4. Corresponding metal,`oblong-shaped members 96, corresponding in shape to the shape of thebars 90 and 92, may be used with the wooden bars 90 and 92. The members96 are constituted, as shown, of two side pieces, engaging oppositesides of the bars 9|) and 92, and two end rods 98 and IDI connecting theends of the side pieces. Each rod 98 is pivotally held freely, with lostmotion, in the hollow |02 between two humps or projections |04 formed ina bent metal plate secured by rivets or screws |06 near the upper end 99of a bar 92. The end rod IUI opposite to the end rod 98 will thus bindagainst the bar 9U, as hereinafter described, to prevent relativecollapsing movement of the bars 90 and 92. If desired, however, the rod98 may be replaced by a pintle |98 extending through the bar 92, asshown in Fig. 3. The rings I may, if desired, be provided with anextending thun'b piece I2, disposed diametrically opposite to the splitportion I3. The diameter, shape andother dimensions of the rings I0 andthe members 96, as well as the diameter of the wire or other material ofwhich they are constituted, are such that, when it is attempted to forcethe tube 4 telescopically upward into the tube 2, the tube 2 willautomatically be caused to bind against the inner walls of the ring I0.When a similar collapsing, slidable movement of the bars 99 and 92 isattempted, the bar 90 will bind against the end IUI of the member 96,that is opposite to the freely pivotal part 98. This is assuming thatthe rings I0 and the members 96 occupy their illustrated position,beyond deadcenter. To aid this binding action, the metal of the ringsI0, as well as of the tongue 6, may be built so as to have a slightspring action. This is facilitated by splitting the rings `II) at theportions I3. It is also facilitated by having the tongue 6 suii'icientlyslender.

All that is necessary to set up the tripod, therefore, is to let thetubes 4 fall telescopically out of the tubes 2, or to move the bars 92downward with respect to the bars 90, and then to set the sharpenedlower ends II of the tubes 4 or the bars 92 upon the ground.

When the tripod is thus set up, with its lower ends II dug into theground, and left to itself, the legs would tend to collapse, due to theweight of the tripod. Such tendency to leg-collapsing movement will,however, introduce forces such as to control the rings I0 and themembers 96, causing the rings I0 to pivot slightly upward and themembers 96 to pivot slightly downward about their pivoting portions I3and 98. For the reasons before given, the tubes 4 and the bars 92 willeach then bind against its corresponding ring I0 or member 96.Collapsing movement of the legs will thus be prevented by the rings I0and the members 96, and the easel will be automatically held,uncollapsed, in place.

To permit collapsing the legs of the tripod, when the painters work isnished, one needs only to press with the fingers or the thumb downwardupon that portion of the rings where the thumb pieces I2 are situated.

The rings I9 may be replaced by any suitable equivalent, such asperforated metal plate members 82, each supported by a spring tongue 84,secured to the lower end of the tube 2 at 86, as illustrated in Figs. 4and 5. The tubes 4 are received in the perforations 88 of the platemembers 82 and bind against the opposite walls |96 and |98 thereof inthe same way as before described, as illustrated by full lines in Fig.5. The outer wall |98 may, in fact, be omitted, as the inner wall |96will alone serve to perform this binding action. The plate member 82may, therefore, be replaced by a mere tongue, terminating ln the wall|96. The spring tongue 84 must, however, be properly designed to bringabout the desired result.

As a further modification, the tongue B4 may be made wider than as shownin Figs. 4 and 5, and preferably somewhat cup-shaped, as illustrated at64 in Fig. 9, to receive a locking ball or balls |15. When the easel isset up in position, the ball or balls |15 will bind between thecupshaped tongue 64 and the tube 4 to prevent accidental collapse of thetripod legs. The balls |15 may be caused to fall away, out of bindingcontact, merely by inverting the tripod, thus permitting collapse of thetripod legs.

As shown in Fig. 12, oppositely disposed plates |2| on the lower bar 92may be provided with oppositely disposed openings |23 that extendobliquely downward to receive a locking pin |25 for binding against theupper bar 90 to prevent collapsing movement of the legs.

After collapsing the legs, it may be desirable to lock the tubes 2 and4, or the bars 90 and 92, against relative outward, or uncollapsingmovement. This may be effected in any desired way, as by means of springcatches (not shown) provided upon one of the members 2 and 4 or 90 and92 and engaging against the other member. In practice, however, the samerings I0 or members 96 may be relied upon, if they are permitted toswing freely about their pivoting portions I3 and 98, in a direction ofpivotal movement downward, or to the other side of the dead-centerposition from that illustrated. When a tube 4 or bar 92 starts to fallor otherwise move downward, therefore, it will cause the correspondingring I6 to pivot downward or the member 96 to pivot upward about therespective pivoting portions I3 or 98, causing a binding action similarto that before described, but in the opposite direction.

As is also described in the said Letters Patent, the canvas-supportingmembers are adjustable on their respective tubes 2 or bars 90, and areautomatically retained in their adjusted position. These canvas supportsmay be constituted of upwardly extending, canvas-supporting hooks |12,pivoted at one end, about a pintle |14 to the free end of one leg of aremovable, U-shaped or other suitably shaped guide |16, within which thecorrespondingly shaped, four-sided bars 90 are slidably received, so asto be capable of being pivotally received in a wedge-shaped slot |18 atthe free end of the other leg. The hook member |12 thus extends forward,beyond the guide |16, as illustrated. W'hen the hook |12 is raised aboutits pivoting pintle |14, the guide will be held in place by an enlargedplate portion I 53 of the hook |12. A spring washer (not shown) may beprovided to help press the hook |12 against the tripod bar 90.

A further form, suitable especially for a studio easel, is illustratedinFig. 6. The canvas-supporting hook |40 is fixed to a bar |42 and has asquare-shaped opening |43 in which the bar 9U is slidably received, andthat is provided with an oblong, or square-shaped member |44 similar tothe member 96, retained in similar fashion, and acting similarly tocause the parts to bind.

A hook 39, at the free end of a clamping rod or bar 32, engages theupper end of the canvas to clamp it against the supports |12. The otherend of the bar 32 is shown extending through an opening |92 in aprojecting portion |90 of a sheet-metal, oblong-shaped member |86,freely mounted on the rear leg of the tripod. The said other end of thebar 32 is preferably curved to provide a large range of angular clampingadjustments against the lupper end of the canvas. Because the canvaspresses upward upon the bar 32, it is automatically retainedfrictionally in canvas-clamping position, by binding against oppositeside walls oi the opening 92. A wide range of adjustment is permitted bythis construction, so as to make it possible to clamp readily canvasesi4 of different height, arranged at different angles, in diierentplanes, merely by having the bar 32 assume diierent pivotal positions inthe opening |92. The artist will approximately adjust the lower end ofthe member 32 to the size of the canvas I4, so that the upper end of themember 32 is positioned slightly below the upper end of the canvas. Hewill then give a slight springy, upward movement to the bar 32 and slipthe upper end of the canvas under the hook 3i).

Alternatively, the hook 30 may be adjusted rst against the upper end ofthe canvas I4 and the canvas may then be tightened by moving thesupports |72 upward.

When the clamping rod 32 is released, the guide |86 will tilt, so as tobe held in place on the bar 98 by its own weight.

When the easel is not in use, or collapsed, the rod 32 may be slidthrough the opening |92, as is illustrated in Fig. 11, until its end 3Uengages the walls thereof. The bar 32 will thus be freely suspended, asillustrated in the said Fig. 11, with the end 38 in the slot |92, so asto be held in place. When the guide |86 is slid to the top of the rearles, the easel being collapsed, it may be held in place against fallingby its own weight, augmented by the weight of the bar 32, and frictionalbinding.

When the legs are fully opened out pivotally, as shown in Fig. l, asupport for a painting box and palette or the like may be constituted ofrigid bars i5 and 83, The bar 'I5 may be pivoted to one of the frontlegs at l1 and received in a member 8| xed to the other front leg at thesame elevation as the pivot ll. 'Ihe opening between the member 8| andthe bar 90 is wedge shaped, so as to permit the bar '|5 to enter at theupper end of the said wedge-shaped opening and to become bound in at thelower'end of the said wedge-shaped opening. A bar 83, pivoted at one endto the rear' leg at 85, also at the same elevation, adjustably carriesat its other end a member 286 to which is pivoted at |78 a slide 8l inwhich the bar 'l5 is slidably received. The member 286 is V-shaped, andis of spring metal, being provided with alined openings 93 in theoppositely disposed arms of the V, through which openings 93 the bar 83extends. The arms of the V bind against the bar 83 to hold it in place,but the binding may be released by pressing the said arms toward each'other with the fingers.

When the tripod is collapsed, the rods 'F5 and 83 become nested inbetween the legs of the tripod, as illustrated in Fig. 11. When thetripod is opened, the bar 'l5 may fall by gravity and the bar 83 willslide downward with it. A reverse action takes place when the tripod iscollapsed.

As explained in the said Letters Patent, the tripod legs may be pivotedtogether in any of a number of different ways. According to theillustrated embodiment of the invention, the upper ends of each of thetwo front tripod legs may be fixed in U-shaped, metal members, shown at|88 and |89, which are pivoted together by means of a pintle IJ. Theupper end of the rear leg is pivoted about a pintle H6 in a U- shapedmember that is likewise pivoted at HU.

Further modifications will occur to persons skilled in the .art and allsuch are considered to fall within the spirit and scope of the presentinvention, as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A tripod having, in combination, three legs, two pivoted, U-shapedmembers in each of which the upper end of one of the legs of the tripodis secured, and a third U-shaped member pivoted about the pivot of thetwo rst-named U-shaped members, the upper end of the third leg beingpivoted in the third U-shaped member.

2. A tripod the three legs of which each com- .Y

prises two relatively slidable members, one of the members of each leghaving openings disposed obliquely to the direction of extension of thesaid one member, and means in the openings for binding against the othermember of each leg to prevent relative slidable movement of the membersof each leg.

3. A tripod the three legs of which each comprises two relativelyslidable members, and latching means connected with one of the membersof each leg and actuated by the weight of the upper portion of thetripod to bind against the other member of each leg to prevent slidablemovement of the members of each leg.

4. A tripod the three legs of which each comprises two relativelyslidable members, a latch pivoted to one of the members of each leg soas to swing freely about its pivot and actuated by the Weight of theupper portion of the tripod to bind against the other member of each legto prevent slidable movement of the members of each leg.

5. A palette support for use with a tripod, comprising a bar having oneend pivoted to one of the legs of the tripod and the other end slidablyengaging another leg of the tripod, a second bar having one end pivotedto the third leg of the tripod, means for connecting the other end ofthe second bar for longitudinal adjustment on the rst-named bar, andmeans for adjustably clamping the second-named bar to said connectingmeans.

JOSEPH TEPPER.

